Our Reporter, Abuja
Leading presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, on Thursday expressed deep concern over a recent security directive by the United States Embassy in Nigeria, warning that it signals deteriorating confidence in Nigeria’s security architecture.
In a statement titled “U.S. Security Alarm on Nigeria: A Bad Omen,” Obi described the reported evacuation of U.S. embassy staff as “deeply worrisome” and urged the Federal Government to treat the development as a national emergency.
“The recent directive by the United States to evacuate its embassy staff from Nigeria due to rising insecurity is deeply worrisome and should be treated as a national emergency,” Obi said.
Citing Nigeria’s position on the Global Terrorism Index, where it ranks fourth globally, Obi lamented that insecurity continues to worsen, with citizens facing daily threats to their lives and livelihoods.
“Lives are being lost and communities remain under constant threat. There is a glaring absence of effective governance; instead, what prevails are schemes that undermine democratic processes, as though politics has taken precedence over the safety of citizens,” he stated.
Obi warned that the U.S. action reflects eroding international trust in Nigeria’s ability to guarantee safety.
“The U.S. directive is a clear signal of declining confidence in our national security architecture,” he said.
He also referenced reports of the feared killing of a senior military officer in Borno State, describing it as further evidence of the worsening crisis.
“Disturbingly, reports indicate the loss of yet another Army Brigadier General to terrorists in Borno earlier today,” Obi added.
According to him, the deteriorating security environment poses a serious threat to economic growth and foreign investment.
“A nation where people cannot live, work, worship, or travel safely cannot progress or attract investment,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor criticised political leaders for what he described as misplaced priorities, accusing them of focusing on politics at the expense of national security.
“Sadly, as Nigeria deteriorates, we as leaders, like Nero, remain preoccupied with politics, forgetting that without security, there is no nation to govern and no future to campaign for,” Obi said.
He stressed that the protection of lives and property remains the primary responsibility of government, noting that successive administrations have failed in that regard.
“The primary duty of any government is the protection of lives and property, yet in this regard, we as leaders have fallen short over the years,” he said.
